NATURE OF EXERCISE 151 



" When a horse gets to know his speed in his exercise, 

 it is seldom he can afterwards be got to struggle well in a 

 severe-contested race." (Darvill.) 



Experience teaches us that we must be very careful 

 in applying the fact that speed can be greatly increased 

 by practice, to horses ; because, if we push it to an undue 

 extent, they will be apt to become disgusted with their 

 work, and may refuse to " try " ; a proceeding which will 

 nullify any calculation made on the basis of the horse 

 being a machine. For this reason, we should, as a rule, 

 never fully extend an animal in a training gallop. If we 

 have to do this in a trial or in a race, so much the worse for 

 the horse in the great majority of cases ; for, unless he is 

 exceptionally " game," the fact of his knowing the utmost 

 extent of his own powers, will prevent him from struggling 

 as resolutely as he would do, were his self-knowledge less 

 extended. How often do we find that, even winning, 

 after a severe finish, converts, for the remainder of his 

 life, a good horse into a worthless brute, as far as racing is 

 concerned; and that the effect of losing, under similar 

 circumstances, is still more liable to ruin an animal. 

 Horses vary so much in the manner they stand fast work 

 that it is impossible to lay down any detailed rules for 

 guidance on the subject. Sluggish horses are, as a rule, 

 far better in this respect than are impetuous ones; and 

 thorough-breds, than " cocktails." Pedestrians can stand 

 more training than horses, and will often bear being 

 extended day after day without losing their "turn of 

 speed." This fact is probably to be accounted for by the 

 higher development of their nervous system. 



When a horse is restricted for some time to slow 



